We’ve covered the instructions on baptism and confirmation. The third sacrament awaits:

The Neophytes’ First Sharing in the Celebration of the Eucharist

217. Finally in the celebration of the Eucharist, as they take part for the first time and with full right, the newly baptized reach the culminating point in their Christian initiation. In this eucharist the neophytes, now raised to the ranks of royal priesthood, have an active part both in the general intercessions and, to the extent possible, in bringing the gifts to the altar. With the entire community the share in the offering of the sacrifice and say the Lord’s Prayer, giving expression to the spirit of adoption as God’s children that they have received in baptism. When in communion they receive the body that was given for us and the blood that was shed, the neophytes are strengthened in the gifts they have already received and are given a foretaste of the eternal banquet.

Check our earlier discussion on Confirmation, and note here the emphasis on the neophyte as royal priest.

How would you interpret an “active part” in the intercessions and as bearers of gifts to the altar? In my parishes, often the role of prayer leader is set aside for one of the neophytes. When there are a large number of neophytes initiated, we can often involve most or all of them in a full dressing of the altar: mat, cloths, corporal, candles, as well as the bread and wine.

The Lord’s Prayer as an element of a theology of adoption: nice.

Other comments?

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About catholicsensibility

Todd and his family live in Ames, Iowa. He serves a Catholic parish of both Iowa State students and town residents.

One Response to RCIA 217: First Sharing

“With the entire community the share in the offering of the sacrifice…”

I think it is important to make this point. participation in the Eucharist is not limited to receiving communion; it includes offering the sacrifice.

This is why confirmation, as a sign of priesthood, should precede first communion, because communion should be bound up with offering the Eucharist. There is an argument to made that the offering of parents can be shared with children until they can offer it themselves, but it seems weak and after the fact.

As it is now, priesthood is associated with baptism in water, and mentioned hardly at all in adult initiation. That weakens or eliminates this argument for the sequence baptism-confirmation-eucharist, and leaves us looking for others. ‘Why do you need to be strengthened in order to eat?’ is not at all like ‘Why do you need to be priestly to offer sacrifice?’

This finally brings me back around to what I was trying to say to Neil many months ago. I hope there is now enough context that it can be understood!

about Todd Flowerday

A Roman Catholic lay person, married (since 1996), with one adopted child (since 2001). I serve a parish in music ministry.

about John Donaghy

John is a lay missionary since 2007 with a parish in western Honduras. Before that he served in campus ministry and social justice ministry in Iowa. His ministry blog is http://hermanojuancito.blogspot.com

He also blogs reflections on the lectionary and saints/heroes/events of the date at http://walktheway.wordpress.com

He'll be a long-term contributor here analyzing the Latin American bishops' document from their 2007 Aparecida Conference.